Getting a Certified Copy of Your Birth Certificate
To prove your or a family member’s identity, you may need a certified copy of a birth certificate. The Iowa Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Health Statistics maintains the state’s “Vital Statistics,” including records of births, marriages, and deaths. See Iowa Code chapter 144.
You can request certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, or death certificates from the Iowa Bureau of Health Statistics for $15. The Bureau charges additional fees for ordering the certified copies online or by phone through VitalChek, the Bureau's authorized vendor. For more details on the additional fees, see “How to Request a Certified Record” from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Local county recorders can also issue certified copies for births that happened in that county, starting with births in 1987. For marriage and death certificates, local county recorders can issue certified copies for events in that county, starting with records in 1954. You can also ask the local county recorder for help about whether you need to contact the state Bureau of Health Statistics or whether you can get the record locally. Click here and select your county from the dropdown menu to find the location and contact information for Iowa county recorder offices.
Ways to Request a Certified Copy from the Bureau of Health Statistics
- Go to the Des Moines Office:
- Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075- Make sure to bring your current government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Send the following items by mail to the same address:
- a completed and signed Application for an Iowa Vital Record, notarized by a notary public
- a clear photocopy of your current government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport
- a $15 check or money order, payable to “Iowa Department of Public Health"
Ways to Request a Certified Copy from VitalChek (the Bureau of Health Statistics' authorized vendor)
- Call VitalChek toll-free at (866) 809-0290. You will be charged an extra fee per order.
- Order online at VitalChek. You will be charged an extra fee per order.
Iowa law
Iowa Code chapter 144—Vital Statistics